Box making machines



Feb. 11, 1958 w. OLSON v 2,822,734

BOX MAKING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnuemar Willard AOlson Feb. 11, 1958 w. A. OLSON Box MAKING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1955 Inventor Willard A015 012/ 5 his rrzey Feb. 11, 1958 w. A. OLSON 2,822,734

BOX MAKING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [nuerzzor \A/il lard A. Olson B 2,822,734 BOX MAKING MACHINES Willard A. Olson, Manchester, Mass., assiguor to Hoague- Sprague Corporation, Lynn, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 16, 1955, Serial No. 553,503 12 Claims. (Cl. 93-363) This invention relates to box making machines and more particularly to machines of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,723,601, granted November 15, 1955, in the name of George S. Sillars, an object of the invention being to provide improved and automatically operated pressing mechanism particularly adapted for use in machines of the above-mentioned type.

In forming a box on the type of machine illustrated herein, a box blank, the side wings of which have been folded by the operator at right angles to the bottom, is presented on end with the bottom in a vertical plane and one end wing extending downwardly, to a member by which the corner laps are folded inwardly toward each other, and is then moved by the operator past mechanism by which glue is applied to the inner face of the downwardly extending end wing, between rolls which bend the end wing extension at a right angle to the end wing, past a plow which bends the end wing into a horizontal plane in contact with the corner laps and then onto a work support which forms one of a pair of members for pressing the end of the box to cause the end wing to adhere firmly to the corner laps and the end wing extension to be bent over into engagement with the inner surfaces of the corner laps.

As herein illustrated and in accordance with a feature of the invention, one of the pressing members is in the form of an abutment which is normally out of register with the support and is moved into register with the support by fluid pressure operated mechanism in response to movement of the box blank into position on the support for the end pressing operation, the movement of the abutment initiating the pressing movement of the support by another fluid pressure operated mechanism so that the support is automatically moved toward the abutment to press the box end after the abutment has moved into register with the support.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, retracting movements of both the support and the abutment are automatically initiated after the box end has been subjected to an adjustably predetermined amount of pressure.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the support and the abutment are automatically retracted only after the box end has been pressed for an adjustably predetermined interval of time.

The above and other features of the invention including various details of construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described with reference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the pressing mechanism of the machine, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the electrical circuits and 'fluid pressure system for operating the presser mecha nism.

States Patent '0 2,822,734 Patented Feb. 11, 195

posed of a pair of spaced supporting members 10 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and carrying a pair of spaced vertical frames 12 connected at the top by a crosshead 14. Extending laterally from one of the members 12 is a supporting arm 16 secured at 18 to a bracket 20 which is in turn secured in a suitable manner to the adjacent frame 12. The arm 16 carries various instrumentalities for preparing the box blank for the end pressing operation. I

These instrumentalities include a table 22 along which the inturned corner laps of a box blank are guided with the end wing of the box blank extending downwardly below the table and in the same vertical plane as the bottom of the box. The table 22 includes an inclined portion 24 joined to a horizontal portion 26 by a curved portion 28. In starting a box blank through the machine the operator turns the side wings of the, blank at right angles to the body of the blank and imparts a preliminary inward bend to the corner laps which are then presented to the portions. 24, 26 of the table 22 which operate when the blank is pressed downwardly to complete folding of the corner laps as described more. fully in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,393,383, granted January 22, 1946, on an application of C. D. Knowlton.

' The box is then advanced along the table 22' to the left with the corner laps held against the top surface of the table and the downwardly extending end wing passes througha glue applying mechanism 30 which may be of the type illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United ,StatesNo. 2,338,138, granted January 4, 1944, on an application filed in the name of George S. Sillars. This mechanism includes a glue roll 32 rotated bya motor 34 carried by a bracket 36 secured to the right hand base member 10. Upon rotation of the roll 32 adhesive is carried upwardly from a reservoir 38 and deposited on the inner surface of the downwardly projecting end wing and end wing extension of the box blank so that when the end wing is subsequently turned into engagement with the corner laps it is secured thereto by the adhesive coating.

7 Carried by the. arm 16 beyond the glue mechanism 30 in the path of movement of the box blank is a pair of rolls 40 carried by shafts journaled in a bracket 42 which ,As illustrated in Fig. 1 the machine includesa base comis secured to the arm 16 for vertical adjustment by a screw and slot connection 44. These rolls are arranged to engage opposite sides of the blank along the crease which creates the'end wing and the end wing extension of the box blank and impart a preleminary bend of the end wing extension with respect to the end wing as illustrated and described more fully in Letters Patent of the United States 2,186,977, granted January 16, 1940, on an application filed in the name of .C. D. Knowlton. Also carried by the bracket 42 is a guide plate 46 the purpose of which is to guide the depending end Wing extension into the bite of the rolls 40. v

Mounted at the left of the table 22 and carried by the bracket 20 is a plow 48 having a curved or scrollshaped surface with which the end wing contacts during movement of-the 'blank to the left to turn the end wing into a horizontal plane in contact with the inturned corner laps. From the plow 48 the blank is moved onto the lower presser member or work support 50 the top I '1 surface of which is in substantialy the same horizontal plane as the portion 26 of the table 22 and a guide surface associated with the plow 48 over which the blank is' guide wall 52 is hinged at 54 to the work support and normally held inthe position illustrated in the drawings by a spring 56,

while the. stop bar. 62 is adjustably carried 4 3n by the guide wall 52 in position to be engaged by the advancing side wall of the box blank.

The movement of the box over the work support toward the stop 62 initiates theoperation of the mechanism for pressing the end of the box. For this purpose there is pivoted to the support 50 by means of-a screw a trigger 72 which is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 to be engaged by a box blank in its movement over the work support 50. Pivoted to the lower end of the trigger 72 is a cam plate 74 which is arranged to depress momentarily a switch button 76 upon counterclockwise movement of the trigger 72 by the advancing box blank, The work support is recessed to receive the trigger 72 and permit it to move into a horizontal position during advance of the box blank over it into engagement with the stop 62. After the end of the box has been pressed as will be hereinafter described, the box is removed from the support 50 whereupon the trigger 72 moves under the influence of gravity in a clockwise direction back to its initial position. During this movement of the trigger the cam 74 pivots on the trigger in a counterclockwise direction and passes freely over the button 76 without again depressing the button.

Cooperating with the support 50 in pressing the end of the box is an abutment 82 which moves forwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, into the interior of the box in response to the movement of the trigger 72 by the advancing box blank. During this movement the abutment turns an end wing extension from an upstanding position downwardly into contact with the inner surfaces of the corner laps, as more fully explained in the abovementioned Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,723,601.

The lower portion of the abutment 82 is inclined at 84 to facilitate this turning movement of the end'wing extension after-the abutment has moved into the box.

After the abutment has moved into the box the support 59 is moved upwardly so that the endof the box is pressed between the support and the abutment causing the end wing to be firmly secured to the corner laps after which the support moves downwardly and the abutment moves out of the box permitting the box to be removed from the machine. The box may now be turned end for end and the other end of the box completed in the same manner.

The work support 50 is carried for vertical movement by a bracket which is secured to the vertical frames 12. This bracket is provided with a vertical bore 92 slidable in which is a cylindrical portion 94 depending from the support 50. The support normally rests on the upper surface of the bracket 90 but is moved upwardly by a rod 96 which is secured at its upper end to the portion 94 and which is carried by and extends upwardly from a piston 98 in a cylinder 100 carried by forwardly extending portions of the frames 12.

The abutment 82 forming the upper press member is carried by a slide 104 which is guided for forward and rearward movements between the crosshead 14 and a supporting member 106 secured to the frames 12. Guide plates 188 (Fig. 1) secured to the supporting member 106 prevent lateral movement of the slide 104 during its forward and rearward movements. For limiting the forward movement of the slide 104 it is provided at its rearward end with a stud 118 which extends rearwardly through a hole 120 in an upstanding bracket 122 secured to the rear end of the member 106. An adjustable stop nut 123 at the rearward end of the stud 118 is arranged to engage a vertical surface 124 of the bracket 122 at a predetermined point in the forward movementof the slide 104'.

For moving the slide 104 in its box forming and supporting movements a rod 125 is secured at its forward end to the slide by a T-shaped connecting block 126. The rod 125 is secured at its rearward end to a piston 128 in a cylinder 130 carried by the bracket 122.

The fluid pressure system for moving the pistons 98 and 128 together with their respective work support 50 and abutment 82 is illustrated schematically in Fig. 3. The parts are illustrated in the positions assumed when the support 50 and the abutment 82 are in their retracted positions as shown in Fig. 2. Fluid under pressure from a suitable source is supplied to the system through pipes 132 (Fig. 2), the fluid pressure being set at a predetermined value by a regulator valve 134. A pipe 136 by suitable connections leads from the pipes 132 to a solenoid operated valve 138 which includes a pair of connected valve elements 140, 142 having stems 144, 146

' acting as armatures, the positions of which are controlled by a pair of solenoid coils 148, 150. The valve elements 140, 142 control communication between the pipe 136 and the pipes 152, 154 respectively, which in turn are connected to opposite ends of the cylinder 130. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3, fluid pressure from the pipes 132, 136 passes through the valve 138 and pipe 154 into the right end of the cylinder 130 holding the piston 128 to the left and maintaining the slide 164 and its abutment 82 in retracted position as seen in Fig. 2. At this time communication between the pipe 136 and the left end of the cylinder 130 through the pipe 152 is prevented by the valve element 148 the position of which also permits communication between the pipe 152 and an exhaust port in the valve 138. 7

Upon movement of a box blank onto the work support 50 actuating the trigger 72, the button 76 operated by the trigger as heretofore described causes momentary closure of a normally open switch 156 which is mounted on the front of the bracket 90 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Closure of this switch energizes the solenoid coil 148 by closing a circuit from line wire L, wire I), switch 156, coil 148, and wire 0 back to a line wire L1. Energization of the coil 148 moves the armature 144 and its associated valve elements 140, 142 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, providing communication through the valve 138 between the pipe 136, pipe 152, and the left end of cylinder 130. Pressurized fluid now fiows from the pipe 136 into the left end of the cylinder 130 moving the piston 12% and its associated slide 104 and abutment 82 to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, thus moving the abutment into register with the suppolt and into the box blank positioned on the support. the valve element 142 allows fluid to fiow freely from the right end of the cylinder through the pipe 154 to an cxhaust port. 7

Also leading from the pipes 132 is a pipe 161 leading to a solenoid operated valve 174 which includes a pair of connected valve elements 1'70, 172 having stems 168, 169 acting as armatures, the positions of which are controlled by a pair of solenoid coils 166, 167. The valve elements 170, 172 control communication between the pipe 161 and the pipes 165, 167, respectively, which in turn are connected to opposite ends of the cylinder 100. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3 fluid pressure from the pipes 132, 161 passes through the valve 174 and pipe into the upper end of the cylinder 168, holding the piston 98 down to maintain the rod 96 and its support 59 in the lowered position shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the valve element 17%, the lower end of the cylinder 100 is connected through the pipe 167- to an exhaust port in the valve 174.

Near the end of the forward movement of the piston 128 and its associated slide 164 carrying the abutment 82 into a box resting on the support 50, as previously de scribed, a cam surface 158 formed atone sideof the slide 104 actuates a switch button 169 of a switch 162 mounted on a portion of the supporting member 196. Actuation of the switch 162 causes momentary energization of the solenoid coil 166 by closing a circuit from a charged condenser 164, wire d, coil 166 and back to a line wire L-1. The energization of the coil 166 moves the armature 168 together with its integral valve elements 170,

At this time the position of 172 of the valve 174 to the right, as viewedin Fig. 3, providing communication through the valve 174 between the pipes 161, pipe 167, and the lower end of the cylinder 109. Pressurizing fluid now flows from the pipe 161 into the lower end of the cylinder 100 moving the piston 98 and its associated rod 96 and support 50 upwardly to press the box end against the abutment 82 which was previously moved into the box and into register with the support 50. At this time the position of the valve element 172 allows fluid to flow freely from the upper end of the cylinder 100 through the pipe 165 and the valve 174 to an exhaust port in the valve.

As the pressure fluid flows into the lower end of the cylinder 100 from the pipe 167, pressure fluid also is communicated from the pipe 167 to a cylinder 182 through a pipe 130 and an adjustable restricting valve 181. A piston 184 in the cylinder 182 is normally urged downwardly by a spring 183, the force of which may be adjusted to vary the amount of fluid pressure required to raise the piston. When the fluid pressure in the lower end of the cylinder 182 reaches a predetermined value suificient to overcome the force exerted by the spring 183, the piston 184 is raised at a rate determined by the adjustment of the restricting valve 181 to close a switch 186 which causes simultaneous energization of the coils 150 and 167. The coil 150 is energized through a circuit from the line wire L, switch 186, wire e, coil 150, and wire f back to the line wire L-l. The coil 167 is ener gized through a circuit from the line wire L, switch 186, wire g, and coil 167, back to the line wire L-1.- Energization of the coil150 moves the armature 146 and its associated valve elements 140, 142 to the right,'returning these elements to the positions shown in Fig. 3. The positions of the elements 140, 142 allow the fluid atthe 'left of the piston 128 to pass to an exhaust port in the valve 138, while pressurized fluid flows from the pipe 136 to the right end of the cylinder 130 through the valve 138, and pipe 154. In this manner the piston 128 and its associated slide 104 and abutment 82 now move rearwardly or to the left as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, thus moving the abutment 82 out of the box to its retracted position.

At the same time energization of the coil 167 moves the armature 169 and its associated valve elements 170, 172 to the left to the positions shown in Fig. 3. The fluid pressure now is communicated from the pipe 161 through the valve 174 and pipe 165 to the upper ,end of-the cylinder 100, while the position of the valve element 178 allows fluid to flow freely from under the piston 98 through the pipe 167 and an exhaust port in the valve 174. Thus the piston 98 and its associated support 50 are moved downwardly to their retracted positions. As the fluid pressure is exhausted from the pipe 167 the piston 184 in the cylinder 182 is lowered by the spring 183, thus opening the switch 186 and de-energizing the solenoid coils 150 and 167. a 1

As the slide 104 is retracted as described above, the cam surface 158 releases the switch button 160 of the switch 162 allowing the switch 162 to return to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, to recharge the condenser 164 by closing a circuit from the line "wire L, wire h,v rectifier 176, switch 162, condenser 164, and wire k, back to the line wire L-l. To prevent accidental energization of the solenoid coil 166 thereby causing movement of the support 50 after the control circuit power has been shut 011 a resistor R is arranged to dissipate the charge in the condenser 164'after a short interval.

i In the operation of the machine the operator takes a box blank andfolds the side wings at right angles to the body of the box and partially atone end of the box toward each other. The box blank is then presented vertically'to the machine with the corner lapsengaging'surfaces 2'4, 26 of the table 22 and forced downward to turn the corner laps at right angles to' the-side wings. The box blankis nowmoved to the left with the end wing passing through the gluing mechafolds the corner laps.

nism 30 to receive a coating of adhesive on its inner surface, into the bite of the rolls 40 to turn the end wing extension at right angles to the end wing, through the plow 48 which turns the end wing into a horizontal plane against the corner laps, and onto the work support 59. As the box blank is moved, over the work support the trigger 72 is actuated to close momentarily the switch 156 which energizes the solenoid coil 148. The valve elements 140, 142 are then shifted to the left thus directing pressure fluid into the left end of the cylinder and forcing the piston 128 to the right thus moving the abutment 82 into the box on the support 50. As the abutment moves into the 'box the cam surface 158 depresses the switch button 160 moving the switch 162 to the position which energizes momentarily the solenoid coil 166, moving the valve elements 170, 172 to the right. Pressure fluid is thus directed into the lower end of the cylinder 100 forcing the piston 98 and its associated work support 50 upwardly to press the box end against the abutment 82. When the pressure exerted on the box end has reached a predetermined value as determined by adjustment of the spring 183 and after an interval controlled by adjustment of'the restricting valve 181, upward movement of the piston 184 closes the switch 186 to energize the solenoid coils 150, 167. This causes the valve elements 140, 142 of the valve 138 and the valve elements 170, 172 of the valve 174 to return to their initial positions as illustrated Fig. 3, thus returning the piston 98 with its associated work support 50, and the piston 128 with its associated abutment 82 to their retracted positions. When these parts have returned to their retracted positions, the spring 183 to open the switch 186,-deenergizing the solenoid coils and 167. As the slide 104 and its abutment 82 return to their retracted positions, the cam surface158 releases the switch button 160, allowing the switch 162 to return to its normal position, thus recharging the condenser 164 for subsequent operation of the machine. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, a motor for moving said abutment into and out of register with said support, a second motor for moving said support toward and away from said abutment, means operated by a box during its movement onto said support for initiating operation of said abutment moving motor whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, and means operated by said abutment for initiating operation of said second motor whereby .said support is moved toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support after said abutment has moved into register with said support.

2. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving'said abutment into and out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said support toward and away fromsaid abutment, means operated by a box during its movement onto said support for directing pressure fluid to said abutment moving means whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, and means operated by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to said support moving means whereby said support ismoved toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support after said abutment has moved into register with said support.

3. A box making machine comprising a movablesup; port for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure means for moving said;

abutment into and out of register with said support, fluid pressure means for moving said support toward and away, from said abutment, means operated by a box the piston 184 is lowered by 5 during its movement onto said support for directing pressure fluid to said abutment moving means whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, means operated by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to said support moving means whereby said support is moved toward said abutment for pressing a box end po sitioned on said support, means responsive to the attainment of a predetermined fluid pressure operating said support moving means for causing a return operation of said support moving means and said abutment moving means whereby said support and said abutment are returned to their initial retracted positions after the box end has been subjected to a predetermined amount of pressure, and means for varying the predetermined pressure value required to initiate the return movement of said support and said abutment.

4. A box making machine comprising a horizontally arranged support for a box end, an abutment located above but normally out of register with said support, means operative in response to movement of a box onto the support for moving the abutment into the box in register with the support, means operative after move ment of the abutment into register with the support for moving the support upwardly to press the box end between the support and the abutment, and means operative in response to a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the box end by said support for causing the support and the abutment to be returned to their initial positions.

5. A box making machine comprising a horizontally arranged support for a box end, an abutment located above but normally out of register with said support, means operative in response to movement of a box onto the support for moving the abutment into the box in register with the support, means operative after movement of the abutment into register with the support for moving the support upwardly to press the box end between the support and the abutment, and means operative in response to a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the box end but also operative only after a predetermined pressing interval for causing the support and the abutment to be returned to their initial positions.

6. A box making machine comprising a horizontally arranged support for a box end, an abutment located above but normally out of register with said support, means operative in response to movement of a box onto the support for moving the abutment into the box in register with the support, means operative after movement of the abutment into register with the support for moving the support upwardly to press the box end between the support and the abutment, and means operative automatically after a predetermined pressing interval for causing the support and the abutment to be returned to their initial positions.

7. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, a motor for moving said abutment into and out of register with said support, a second motor for moving said support toward and away from said abutment, control means for causing a first operation of said abutment moving motor whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, means operated by said abutment for causing a first operation of said second motor whereby said support is moved toward said'abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support, and means operable after said box end has been pressed for causing second operations of said second motor and said abutment moving motor whereby said support and said abutment are returned to their initial retracted positions.

8. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said abutment into and out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said supsewer port toward andaway from said abutment, control means for directing pressure fluid to said abutment moving means whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, means operated by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to said support moving means whereby said support is moved toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support, and fluid pressure responsive means for causing a return operation of said support moving means and said abutment moving means upon the application of a predetermined pressure to said box end.

9. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure means for moving said abutment into register with said support, fluid pressure means operative after said abutment has moved into register with said support for moving said support toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support, means responsive to the attainment of a predetermined fluid pressure operating said support moving means for causing a return operation of said support moving means and said abutment moving means whereby said support and said abutment are returned to their initial retracted positions after the box end has been subjected to a predetermined'amount of pressure, and means for varying the predetermined fluid pressure value required to initiate the return movement of said support and said abutment.

10. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said abutment into and out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said support toward and away from said abutment, control means for directing pressure fluid to said abutment moving means whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, means controlled by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to said support moving means whereby said support is moved toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support, and means operable automatically a predetermined time after the application of pressure to said box end by said support for causing return operations of said support moving means and said abutment moving means whereby said support and said abutment are returned to their initial retracted positions after said box end has been pressed for a predetermined time interval.

11. A box making machine comprising a movable support for a box end, an abutment normally out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said abutment into and out of register with said support, fluid pressure operated means for moving said sup port toward and away from said abutment, control means for directing pressure fluid to said abutment moving means whereby said abutment is moved into register with said support, means controlled by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to said support moving means whereby said support is moved toward said abutment for pressing a box end positioned on said support, means operable automatically a predetermined time after the application of pressure to the box end by said support for causing said support moving means and said abutment moving means to return said support and said abutment to their initial retracted positions, and means for varying the time interval required for operation of said automatic means.

12. A box making machine comprising amovable support for a box end, an abutment movable into and out of register with said support, a first double acting fluid pres sure motor connected to said abutment for moving the abutment into and out of register with the support, a second double acting fluid pressure motor for moving said support into and out of pressing relation with said abutment, control means for directing pressure fluid to the first motor for moving the abutment into register with said support, control means operated by said abutment for directing pressure fluid to the second motor upon move ment of the abutment into register with the support for moving the support into pressing relationship with the abutment, and means operative automatically after pressure has been applied to a box end on the support for operating both control means simultaneously to direct References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sillars Nov. 15, 1955 

